Service Backup Overview

Service Backup Operations Concept

The GFE Service Backup tool facilitates the backup of both configuration files and forecast data (grids) to the Central Server. When a WFO is unable to perform its duties due to system failures, routine maintenance, or other reasons, one or more WFOs provide Service Backup and issue the products for that WFO (the failed WFO) using data stored on the Central Server. The terms failed and backup denote sites involved with Service Backup. A failed WFO is no longer able to create and issue forecast products for its Country Warning Area (CWA). A backup WFO assumes forecast responsibilities for the failed WFO. When a WFO fails, the backup site accesses the Central Server to download the necessary configuration and forecast data from the failed site. Additional databases are created and configured to match the databases at the failed site. In this manner, all of the configuration data from the failed site is available to the backup site. Thus, products generated by the backup site appear similar to the failed site's customers despite issuance by an alternate WFO. GFE Service Backup provides every WFO the ability to backup all other WFOs. During non-backup situations, offices can import configuration data for practice. The GFE Service Backup capability allows a WFO to launch instances of GFE for the failed site. Forecasters at the backup site can bring up GFE for their site, or the failed site. GFE server processes are started for the failed site within EDEX, and run until Service Backup is terminated.

Restore Database

Once the failed site has returned to service, the backup site sends the grids back to the failed site. The grids are stored in the Restore database at the failed site. Once the failed site's grids have been pushed into the Restore database, the failed site will receive a message from AlertViz notifying them that the Restore database has been populated. The failed site can then use the grids in the Restore database to populate their Fcst/Official databases. The failed site can expect to receive grids in their Restore database within 15 to 25 minutes of being sent from the backup site.